I'm wanting to do a DAK/Tropical impression. I've just bought a nicely shaped Spanish Modelo Z helmet from Seidler which I intend to spray with either Tropical or Dunkelgelb paint from Epic, ( that's another question what's the difference?) and was wondering did Afrika Korps or any Heer troupes fighting in southern Europe ever use the inner tube band around the helmet? It is only to disguise the fact that the liner rivot holes are in a completely different place on the Modelo to an M35 or M40, as it has a different liner . I've looked through books and googled the question but haven't seen any photo's of sand coloured helmets with a black rubber strip.. Obviously there isn't much foliage in a desert, so wouldn't be needed unless you are hiding in an oasis..
Any thoughts or help, as always, greatly appreciated.
'Non adepto demens. Adepto etiam'
War does not show who is right, only who is left..
I'd say you answered your own question. Foliage bands aren't anything to do with uniform or division or even fashion - they are a practical solution in the field of fixing stuff to your helmet for the purposes of camouflage. I'd venture that a black band around a sand-coloured helmet perfectly describes the shape of a helmet and therefore has the opposite effect of camouflage!
But if I was in a position where stuffing grass and stuff in my helmet was practical (it ain't all sand out there after all) then fencing wire, cable, string, rope might be to hand - or how about a tan breadbag strap?
Thanks CW, It may have to be the tan bread bag strap, or I've just thought, could I use a pair of dust goggles and let the elastic strap hide the rivet holes?
Regards Chris.
'Non adepto demens. Adepto etiam'
War does not show who is right, only who is left..
Goggles sounds good!
Look and sound good but ruin any camo effect?
A lot depends on when in the DAK campaign.
Later in Tunisia there was vegetation.
The rubber bands were often a brick red colour, very hard to find now, but less of a compromise on a tan helmet.
The exact shade of tan/sand coloured paint also changed during the war in Africa. By the end it was almost brown.
aka Stigroadie
AFRA
better by design
"Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant, never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion of which the human spirit is capable. "
Thanks Poacher... So if I want a generic helmet colour to go with Tropical/DAK impression would you recommend Epics Tropical colour or the dunkelgelb..? Basically which came first or which was the most prolific colour?
'Non adepto demens. Adepto etiam'
War does not show who is right, only who is left..
Early tropical kit was RAL8000 it changed in 1942 to RAL8020 but obviously helmets would not always get the new paint.
Fading under the sun was common so all kinds of shades could be seen.
Lufwaffe helmets sometimes got a coat of the special tan used on aircraft in that theater. RLM79?
Epic dont identify their shade.
Dunklegelb was RAL7028, not seen until 1943.
aka Stigroadie
AFRA
better by design
"Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant, never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion of which the human spirit is capable. "
Fantastic.. I'll go for the earlier RAL colour and add a bit of white.. I'll get a ltr mixed up and spray every thing applicable.. Including the goggles.. I've just ordered some metal framed look a likes from ebay.. Thanks for the advice...
Regards Chris.
'Non adepto demens. Adepto etiam'
War does not show who is right, only who is left..
This disposable Augenschützer type were quite common.
http://www.ostfront.com/Merchant2/merch ... e=Headgear
You can still find them cheaply, the last pair I bought were £4.
Your landser would be more likely to have these than any other type and they are much under used.
aka Stigroadie
AFRA
better by design
"Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant, never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion of which the human spirit is capable. "
